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March 24, 2026
抗kàng(kang4)
The character 抗 (kàng) means 'to resist' or 'to fight against.' It is commonly used in contexts involving opposition or defiance, such as resisting authority or fighting against an illness. The term has a strong connotation of courage and determination.
Strokes7Radical扌Frequency#4052DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the idea of resistance is often celebrated in historical contexts, such as the resistance against foreign invasions. The term is prevalent in discussions about social justice and activism, reflecting the resilience of the people.
Memory Tip
Imagine a strong warrior with a shield (the character's left side radical) standing firm against a storm (the right side represents movement against something). This visual of resistance helps connect the character's meaning to its pronunciation, 'kàng,' which sounds like 'kangaroo,' a creature that stands strong in the face of challenges.
Meanings of 抗
kàng(kang4)
1to resist
2to fight
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 抗
抗Simplified
7Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#4052Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 抗
Podcast: 抗
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AI Study Notes for 抗
Quick Contrast
抗 (kàng) vs 反 (fǎn) — use 抗 when emphasizing resistance or defiance, while 反 focuses on opposition or counteraction.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a strong warrior with a shield (the character's left side radical) standing firm against a storm (the right side represents movement against something). This visual of resistance helps connect the character's meaning to its pronunciation, 'kàng,' which sounds like 'kangaroo,' a creature that stands strong in the face of challenges.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone; 'kàng' is pronounced with a fourth tone, which can be confused with other tones leading to misinterpretation. This word is often used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about health (抗病) or social movements (抗议). Common collocations include 抗争 (kàngzhēng, to struggle against) and 抗击 (kàngjī, to fight against).
HSK Study Tips
Although 抗 is not an HSK level word, it connects well with other verbs of action and resistance found in the HSK curriculum. Students should focus on practicing its usage in sentences, especially in combination with nouns to form phrases like 抗击病毒 (fight against viruses).
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the idea of resistance is often celebrated in historical contexts, such as the resistance against foreign invasions. The term is prevalent in discussions about social justice and activism, reflecting the resilience of the people.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 抗 with similar-sounding words like 亢 (kàng), which means 'high' or 'excessive.' For example, saying 抗高 instead of 抗病 is incorrect; the correct term for 'resist illness' is 抗病.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 抗
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Grammar Patterns of 抗
抗 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
The majority have a built-in Luddite mentality; they are resistant to change.
5
天冷时，身体的抵抗力会下降。
tiān lěng shí， ， shēn tǐ de dǐ kàng lì huì xià。
The body may be less resistant if it is cold.
6
她会为了那个孩子抗争到底。
tā huì wéi le nà gè hái zǐ kàng zhēng dào dǐ。
She'd have fought to the death for that child.
7
抑郁症会降低人体对疾病的抵抗力。
yì yù zhèng huì jiàng dī rén tǐ duì jí bìng de dǐ kàng lì。
Depression lowers the human ability to cope with disease.
8
只有在万不得已的情况下才允许使用抗生素。
zhī yǒu zài wàn bù dé yǐ de qíng kuàng xià cái yǔn xǔ shǐ yòng kàng shēng sù。
The use of antibiotics is permitted only in extremis.
9
奇怪的是，她拼命求生的抗争使得她的健康状况大有好转。
qí guài de shì， ， tā pīn mìng qiú shēng de kàng zhēng shǐ dé tā de jiàn kāng zhuàng kuàng dà yǒu hǎo。
Curiously, the struggle to survive has greatly improved her health.
10
医生给我开了抗生素。
yī shēng gěi wǒ kāi le kàng shēng sù。
The doctor gave me a prescription for antibiotics.
Cultural Notes for 抗
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the idea of resistance is often celebrated in historical contexts, such as the resistance against foreign invasions. The term is prevalent in discussions about social justice and activism, reflecting the resilience of the people.
Word Family of 抗
Words Containing This Character20
抗kàngto resist
对抗duìkàngto withstand對抗
反抗fǎnkàngto resist
抵抗dǐkàngto resist
抗议kàngyìto protest抗議
抗拒kàngjùto resist
抗生素kàngshēngsùantibiotic
抗体antibody抗體
抗争kàngzhēngto resist抗爭
抗原antigen
抗战war of resistance, especially the war against Japan (1937-1945)抗戰
抗衡kànghéngcontend against
违抗to disobey違抗
抗日战争(China's) War of Resistance against Japan (1937-1945)抗日戰爭
抗旱drought-resistant
抗菌antibacterial
抗癌anti-cancer
抗击to resist (an aggressor)抗擊
对抗赛duel對抗賽
抗辩to protest抗辯
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 抗 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 抗
Some common phrases include 抗议 (kàngyì, to protest) and 抗病 (kàngbìng, to resist illness).
Yes, 抗 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about health or social issues.
You can remember it by associating 'kàng' with 'kangaroo,' imagining a kangaroo fighting against a storm.
